External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar is on his maiden bilateral visit to the Philippines

External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar on Monday held ‘productive’ discussions with Philippines Secretary, Foreign Affairs, Teddy Locsin Jr. and discussed range of issues dealing with mutuality of national security and development aspirations between the two countries.

In a tweet, Jaishankar noted that the two nations are entering a new phase of partnership whose basis is the mutuality of national security and development aspirations.

“Held productive discussions with FM @teddyboylocsin of Philippines. We are entering a new phase of our partnership. Its basis is the mutuality of national security and development aspirations. Our conversation covered a range of issues dealing with both,” the first part of his tweet read.

The External Affairs Ministers’ tweet also said that he expects to take forward a shared agenda through sustained engagement and thanked the Philippines Secretary for extending a warm welcome and generous hospitality.

“Expect to take forward a shared agenda through sustained engagement. Thank you @teddyboylocsin for a warm welcome and generous hospitality,” the second part of Jaishankar’s tweet read.

EAM Jaishankar is on a bilateral visit to the Philippines from February 13-15. This is his first visit to the Philippines as External Affairs Minister.

An MEA statement had said earlier that in addition to other meetings with the political leadership in the Philippines, EAM would interact with the Indian community in Manila during his visit.